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The Great Escape [Special Edition] (Album of the Day)
With PARKLIFE, Blur became the toast of the U.K. rock scene, but if they were feeling pressured for a follow-up, 1995's THE GREAT ESCAPE doesn't sound like it. The album's “The Universal” “Stereotypes” and “Charmless Man” soared up the English singles chart, and its “Country House” became the quartet's first U.K. No.1, famously beating out Oasis' “Roll With It” for the top slot. But a closer look at Damon Albarn's lyrics reveal that, behind the inventive and highly melodic music, the album is preoccupied with loneliness and the grind of daily life. That contrast helps make THE GREAT ESCAPE one of Blur's most satisfying works, and the disc's worth of bonus material in the Special Edition – with live tracks and rarities including all single B-sides – makes a great album even better.
New Orleans Piano (Mono) (Album of the Day)
Roy Byrd, aka Professor Longhair, was one of New Orleans' greatest pianists, influencing a generation of players including Fats Domino and Dr. John. The 1972 compilation NEW ORLEANS PIANO features Fess' complete recordings for Atlantic Records, and shows the master in his prime with such studio aces as saxophonist Lee Allen and drummer Earl Palmer in support. Cut during sessions in 1949 and 1953, these 16 tracks include such Crescent City classics as “Tipitina,” “Mardi Gras In New Orleans” and “Ball The Wall,” and are guaranteed to get your toes tapping. Cited by Rolling Stone as one of the 500 greatest albums of all time, NEW ORLEANS PIANO is an essential purchase for anyone interested in the roots of rock 'n' roll.
Pieces of the Sky (Expanded & Remastered) (Album of the Day)
Technically, Emmylou Harris' first album was GLIDING BIRD, released on the Jubilee label in 1969, but the musical growth spurt she underwent in the few years that followed makes her 1975 PIECES OF THE SKY sound like a new beginning. That Reprise debut is clearly marked by Harris' stint with The Fallen Angels; the 10 tracks include a tribute to fallen bandleader Gram Parsons (“Boulder To Birmingham”) as well as vintage country favorites like the Louvin Brothers' “If I Could Only Win Your Love,” which would become Emmylou's first hit. But the album looks forward as well as backward, including contributions from Linda Ronstadt (on harmony vocals) and Dolly Parton (the song “Coat Of Many Colors”), both of whom would collaborate with Harris on the TRIO project a decade later. Released 45 years ago this month, the superb PIECES OF THE SKY gave notice that country-rock had an exceptional new voice.
Portrait in Soul (Album of the Day)
The first blind graduate of the Juilliard School of Music, Valerie Capers is a distinguished educator as well as a recording artist. But there's nothing stuffy or academic about PORTRAIT IN SOUL, Capers' 1965 debut. Produced by Joel Dorn, the Atlantic collection benefits from both technical skills that were part of the pianist's classical training and a love for swinging jazz that ran in her family (Valerie and brother Bobby both performed with Mongo Santamaria and their dad was a friend of Fats Waller). Barring a version of the Lerner & Loewe standard “Heather on the Hill,” all the songs here are original, and the sextet joining Capers includes such fine players as trumpeter Vincent McEwen and saxophonists Robin Kenyatta and Frank Perowsky. The unheralded PORTRAIT IN SOUL deserves a place in any jazz lover's gallery.
Slow Road to Tiny Empire (Album of the Day)
The one-man recordings Gordon Zacharias was making in early 1990s Boston were originally intended for the soundtrack to a movie the songwriter envisioned about imaginary American pop star “Fandemian Kirk Modine”; the film never saw the light of day, but Zacharias' musical efforts coalesced into a similarly named band a couple of years later in New York City. Privately pressed in 1997 and picked up for release a year later by Rykodisc, Fan Modine's debut SLOW ROAD TO TINY EMPIRE features melodic indie pop whose love of psychedelic eclecticism and effects-laden sonic textures recall such bands as The Flaming Lips or The Swirlies on fuzzy, spacey treats like “Cardamom Chai” and “Rhubarb Pie.” The album gets its first digital release today, and adventurous alternative rock fans will find the journey down the SLOW ROAD TO TINY EMPIRE a rewarding one.
Back to Bedlam (Album of the Day)
While a member of the Royal Armed Forces, James Blunt cut some demos that drew sufficient music industry interest to earn a publishing deal. But it wasn't until 4 Non Blondes' Linda Perry championed him as a performer that Blunt's distinctive falsetto was seen as an asset rather than liability. That became undeniable with the release of BACK TO BEDLAM, which quickly became one of the best sellers in U.K. pop history. If heartfelt ballads like “Goodbye My Lover” and “You're Beautiful” (one of the most omnipresent songs of 2005 thanks to TV, film and commercial licensing) dominate the proceedings, closing track “No Bravery,” about Blunt's military service in Kosovo, show the singer-songwriter has more than just romance on his mind. A striking debut that sold more than 11 million copies around the world, BACK TO BEDLAM weaves a wistful spell that continues to entrance listeners.
Hallelujah I Love Her So (Album of the Day)
Ray Charles first entered Atlantic Records' New York studios to begin recording for the label in 1952. For five years Brother Ray's work would be doled out on singles until Atlantic finally got into the LP business - which means that Charles' self-titled debut album (later re-released as HALLELUJAH I LOVE HER SO) was culled from years of hits. Among the 1957 collection's 14 tracks are R&B Top Tens “Mess Around,” “Drown In My Own Tears” and the iconic “I Got A Woman.” With ace Atlantic producer Jerry Wexler at the helm for these sessions, quality control was pretty high, and the instrumental arrangements match the brilliance of the singing. The protean performer still had nearly fifty years ahead of him, but the volcanic RAY CHARLES proves his genius was there from the start.
Call Me Irresponsible (Deluxe) (Album of the Day)
CALL ME IRRESPONSIBLE may have been the name of Michael Bublé's fifth studio set but successful seems a better description for the Canadian crooner; the 2007 Reprise collection topped the chart and earned a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. While Sinatra-era standards like the title track are clearly a favorite of the performer, Bublé's supple voice and easygoing manner lend themselves to material that goes far beyond big band swing. Among the surprising – but effective – choices here are covers of Leonard Cohen's “I'm Your Man,” Eric Clapton's “Wonderful Tonight” and '70s soul favorite “Me and Mrs. Jones” (there is also a pair of fine originals in “Lost” and “Everything”). The Deluxe Edition of the platinum-selling CALL ME IRRESPONSIBLE includes a terrific version of the Milt Gabler-Bert Kaempfert classic “L-O-V-E.”
I'm In Love (Album of the Day)
CALL ME IRRESPONSIBLE may have been the name of Michael Bublé's fifth studio set but successful seems a better description for the Canadian crooner; the 2007 Reprise collection topped the chart and earned a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. While Sinatra-era standards like the title track are clearly a favorite of the performer, Bublé's supple voice and easygoing manner lend themselves to material that goes far beyond big band swing. Among the surprising – but effective – choices here are covers of Leonard Cohen's “I'm Your Man,” Eric Clapton's “Wonderful Tonight” and '70s soul favorite “Me and Mrs. Jones” (there is also a pair of fine originals in “Lost” and “Everything”). The Deluxe Edition of the platinum-selling CALL ME IRRESPONSIBLE includes a terrific version of the Milt Gabler-Bert Kaempfert classic “L-O-V-E.”
Agent Provocateur (Album of the Day)
It's Valentine's Day - do you want to know what love is? Three years after Foreigner had conquered the charts with 4, the quartet returned with another smash in AGENT PROVOCATEUR. The Atlantic collection sold millions of copies worldwide thanks largely to the strength of hit “I Want To Know What Love Is,” which became the band's only song to top both the U.K. and U.S. singles charts. While that soaring ballad (pairing Lou Gramm's powerful vocals with the New Jersey Mass Choir) remains impressive, there are several other fine cuts among the album's 10 originals, including “Down On Love,” “Growing Up The Hard Way” and Top 40 single “That Was Yesterday.” With writer-guitarist Mick Jones bringing his customary craftsmanship to the production, the arena rock of AGENT PROVOCATEUR remains supremely listenable.